Hundreds celebrate DeZwaan windmill’s grand reopening

Saturday

Apr 19, 2014 at 5:00 PM

By Jim.Hayden@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4274

The town crier’s bell had barely ceased ringing when cheers arose from the crowd on Windmill Island Gardens in Holland on Saturday morning.“It’s going! It’s going!” and the hundreds of spectators clapped as the blades of DeZwaan windmill began to spin in the breeze for the first time in two years.The island began operations for the season with an opening ceremony celebrating the about $750,000 renovation to the 252-year-old structure and the community that supported it.“So many people stepped up to make this a reality,” said Holland Mayor Kurt Dykstra to hundreds who attended the free event. “It’s indicative of the kind of support from the community.”In April 2012, a crack and rot were discovered in a beam in the cap of the windmill. That cap turns the blades into the wind.The blades did not operate during the repairs and a portable mill was used to grind the grain.The repairs were an exciting project, said Mike Novakoski, president and CEO of Elzinga and Volkers, the general contractor for the project.“There’s no books on this,” he said Saturday to laughter from the audience. “Our company hasn’t done a dozen of these.”The windmill has been in the city for 49 years. Officials are planning a major celebration next year for the 50th anniversary, Dykstra said.“It is such a unique piece of not only local history but state history,” Dykstra said, noting DeZwaan was the last windmill to leave the Netherlands.Mark and Roxanne de Roo were part of the first tour group of the season at the windmill.“Excellent,” Mark de Roo said about the seeing the blades turn during the walk through the structure. “It’s a marvel.”Roxanne’s ancestors were some of the first families to settle in Holland.The dedication event coincided with the second Run of the Mill 5K run/walk that was established by the Holland Youth Advisory Committee to support the windmill and park.Windmill Island Gardens is open 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week. Rates are $8 for adults, $5 for youth 5-15 and free for Holland residents with proper proof of residency (with the exception of Tulip Time).— Follow Jim Hayden on Twitter@SentinelJim.